Nintendo's first mobile app launching in March

Nintendo announced that its first mobile-exclusive app, Miitomo, will be launching in North America for iOS and Android sometime in March. Players interested in picking up the game as soon as possible will be able to pre-register for it using the new Nintendo Account service, and will be notified when the game launches. Additionally, they will receive a special in-game bonus if they sign up before launch.

Miitomo is described as "a social experience that uses Nintendo's Mii characters, which first debuted on the Wii console, to engage friends in a lighthearted and welcoming environment" by answering quirky questions and sharing photos of their Mii.

The game sounds cute, but the question is: who will use it? Barring any unannounced special features in the game, it sounds like something people could do with their friends on any other social network. On the other hand, the "lighthearted and welcoming environment" could be code for "family-friendly," which would make it more appealing to younger users and parents. We'll have to wait and see what other details are released about the game before launch.

The announcement also outlined a new rewards program called My Nintendo:

Launching alongside Miitomo in March, My Nintendo aims to become much more than a traditional rewards program. It is a more comprehensive service that rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways. Miitomo users with a Nintendo Account will be able to take advantage of My Nintendo to enhance their experience.

Nothing else was said about how My Nintendo transcends normal rewards programs, but Nintendo has promised to provide more details about it, as well as Miitomo and Nintendo Account, in the next few weeks.